Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-09-29

Experiences and Observations of
an ExcursiOnist.
A LAVISH LAYOUT OF GOOD
THINGS.
A Land Rich i'm Products and
Prospects.
colorado Live Stock Review

colorado Live Stock Review
The excursion reached La Veta at
1890 p. m. Wednesday, 23d ult, and
was met by the reception committee OF
the La Veta Town company and others
who we're detailed to look after the
comforts of the guests. The clouds
had cleared away and the new arrivals
were treated to some of our famous
sunshine, clear bracing air and and
mountain scenery. The change from
the gloomy weather experienced at Tour
list City to the bright and cheerful sur
roundings at this latter point, called
forth many expressions of delight from
the eastern visitors, and it was not
many minutes until every available We
hicle was carrying the sight-seers to
points of interest adjacent to the town.
At 4 p. m. the cars were again board
ed and pulled out for the summit OF
Veta mountain, nearly all Of the party
embracing this opportunity to get a
glimpse of real mountains, pine trees
and the wonderful engineering feats of
modern times. The train stopped at
Veta Pass station long enough to per-
init the passengers to obtain mementos
of this their first mountain experience,
returning to La Vcta in time for
supper.
In the evening "Fanchon the Crick-
ct was rendered at Cozad' S hall by an
amatuer company from Lamar, Colo. y,
social hop occurring after the show,
besides concert at the Baptist church
and speeches by Senator Voorhees,, Ex-
Congressman Lamb, Gov. Click and
the world-renouned [. r. Holmes.
Thursday morning beamed forth in
all the glory of Colorado's boosted sun
shine, the visitors were out early, feel
ing greatly refreshed, intent on max
ing the most of the generous hospital
tiles rendered them by the good people
Of La Veta. Ranchman and farmers
came in from miles around and were
only to glad to assist in rendering the
stay of the excursionists as pleasant
as possible.
The Lamar and Garden City cornet
bands discoursed lively music through
out the entire trip, which was highly
appreciated by the resident population.
The town of LIE Veta lies directly
north and near the base of the Spanish
Peaks, in the lovely little valley of the
Cuchara, on the old homestead of the
well-known veteran frontiersman, Col.
j. NJ. Francisco, who selected this
beautiful spot as his home years ago
when the red men held full sway from
the Missouri river to the mountains.
Here he lived, comparatively alone,
trading with the Indians and enter
tanning the weary travellers who had
made the journey this far west in the
''antediluvlan" stage coaches of the
overland company. Here he estab-
lished trading post, and engaged in
filling the soil, raising good crops of
corn, wheat and oats. The old build
ings are still standing near the center
of the town, and we took occasion to
inspect them. The house is built in
the shape of hollow square, having a
small court, in the center Of which is
we'll Of pure, cold water. The eastern
front was formerly high stockade,
but has been torn down. In the south
wing of the building we were shown
pair of small French burrs, which were
ut one time operated by turbine wat
er wheel and served to make -four and
meal for the settlements for miles
around. This part of the building is
now used as a grainary, where the
Colonel stores goodly quantity of
small grain which comes from his farm
a little WAYS southwest of the town.
The Colonel still occupies rooms In his
old-time abode, in one of which we
noticed a splendid life-size painting of
this digni6ed and honorable gentleman.
We are 10th to stop with such a short
sketch of Colonel Francisco and his
past career, but space forbids, and as
We started out to speak of the town Of
La Veta will let the above suffice for
the present.
As remarked before, ssThe town of
La Veta" has lately taken upon itself
, ''boom" and out of this has sprung
The La Veta Town and Improvement
Company, who have enlarged and re-